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THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
bishop of Noyon, born at Salency, of an illustrious 
family, instituted in bis birthplace, in 532, a prize for 
virtue. This prize is a simple crown of roses ; but all 
the young people of the village must acknowledge her 
who obtains it as the most worthy, modest, and virtuous. 
The sister of St. Medard was unanimously named the 
first rosiere. She received her crown from the hands of 
its founder, and bequeathed it, with the example of her 
virtues, to posterity. Time, which has overturned so 
many empires, and broken the sceptre of so many kings 
and queens, has respected the rose crown of Salency. 
It has continued to pass from the hand of one protector 
and another to the brow of innocence. 
Chaucer loved the rose, and crowned Venus with a 
garland “ rosy white and redde.” Spenser tells us that, 
in the contest of beauty, “ a rosy girlond was the 
victor’s meed.” And after his description of fair Alma, 
in her rich array, he says, — 
“ Her yellow golden heare 
Was trimly woven, and in tresses wrought; 
Ne other tire she on her head did weare, 
But crowned with a garland of sweet rosifcre.” 
In many a festive scene, we find, as Sir Philip Sidney 
beautifully said, — 
“ A rosy garland and a weary head.” 
Thus the rose has often been used to “ point a 
moral or adorn a tale.” One of the most pleasing of 
Waller’s poems is the well-known song, “ Go, Lovely 
Rose.” Middleton says, — 
